Holiday Handmade Hoopla to highlight handcrafted goods this Saturday

Thursday

Nov 28, 2013 at 1:52 PM

One-of-a-kind holiday gifts hand crafted by local artists will be on display and for sale at the Holiday Handmade Hoopla this Saturday.

By LEE G. HEALYlee.healy@shj.com

One-of-a-kind holiday gifts handcrafted by local artists will be on display and for sale at the Holiday Handmade Hoopla this Saturday.The event, put on by Hub-Bub, is a juried craft fair meant to connect regional artisans with Spartanburg shoppers looking to check a few items off their holiday shopping lists — and maybe pick up something unique for themselves in the process. The Hoopla will be held at Indigo Hall in downtown Spartanburg.Organizers said they’re excited to present this year’s Hoopla after a successful first event two years ago.“Everything is handcrafted,” said Sara Hamilton, event chairwoman. “This is going to be more unique items that you’re not going to be able to find in your big box stores and anywhere else really. It’s something that one person has made.”The Hoopla — which coincides with Small Business Saturday — will feature 27 artists from across South Carolina and Western North Carolina. Hamilton said inventory will include everything from jewelry and handmade jeans to body products and guitars made from cigar boxes.“There’s nothing like being in a room full of people who have put their heart and soul into this thing that they’re making,” Hamilton said. “That sense of creativity, it kind of snowballs.”Spartanburg artist Rebecca Mullen is one of the artists selected by a panel of experts to participate in this year’s event. Mullen said the Hoopla is a chance to expose shoppers to items “people didn’t know existed” and just maybe “something they didn’t even know they wanted.”“If it’s anything like the year before, we’ll have a great turnout,” Mullen said. “I thought it was a great way to bring in the community and expose them to what artists in this area are doing.”Mullen’s business, RumKnits, features knitted and crocheted items, embroidery and copper work.“It’s kind of an eclectic mix,” she said. “I try to make every day more colorful and artful.”Organizers said the Holiday Handmade Hoopla is another opportunity boost the local economy.“Hub-Bub is proud to celebrate the art of handmade craft by connecting local shoppers with regional artisans at Holiday Handmade Hoopla,” said Cate Ryba, Hub-Bub executive director. “This event is a manifestation of our Buy Local campaign, ‘Love Where You Live,’ so come celebrate National Small Business Saturday with us, and help keep your holiday shopping dollars in our area.”Entrance to the Holiday Handmade Hoopla is free from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Refreshments will be sold, and the event will feature live music all day.For $10, shoppers can attend a sneak preview party from 10 to 11 a.m. A limited number of tickets, which include food, beverages, and giveaways from vendors, will be sold at hooplapreview.eventbrite.com and at the door.Indigo Hall is located at 190 Ezell St. For more information, visit www.hub-bub.com/hoopla.

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